News

Irish Agenda: Brian Carey: Superquinn needs more than muscle to be in the big gang

TEN WEEKS after taking control of Superquinn, Select Retail Holdings has given an insight into its plans for the business. Contrary to popular opinion in the aftermath of its €450m acquisition of the business from Feargal Quinn, there will be no store closures.

A new supermarket opening will be announced before Christmas and planning applications to redevelop a handful of its Dublin sites will be submitted in the coming months. There will be a smattering of apartments, but there will be shiny new Superquinn stores.

In addition, the company plans to spend €3m early next year revamping its Blanchardstown outlet. Simon Burke, the executive chairman, is promising something more radical than a fresh lick of paint and some new shelving.

If well received, other stores will get the same treatment in a programme that could cost more than €60m. Burke, who turned around the fortunes of UK toy retailer Hamleys,